title: [Efficacy observation on female chronic pyelonephritis treated with abdominal cluster-needling therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the difference in the clinical efficacy on female chronic pyelonephritis between abdominal cluster-needling therapy and western medicine so as to explore the optimal therapeutic method for the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy cases of female chronic pyelonephritis were randomized into an abdominal cluster-needling group and levofloxacin group, 35 cases in each one. In the abdominal cluster-needling group, the lower abdominal point was selected in combination with Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3). The treatment was given once a day and 10 treatments made one session. In the levofloxacin group, levofloxacin capsules were prescribed for oral administration, once a day. Three months later, the clinical efficacy was observed before and after treatment in two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The curative rate was 65.7% (23/35) and the total effective rate was 100.0% (35/35) in the abdominal cluster-needling group. The curative rate was 22.9%, (8/35) and the total effective rate was 71.4% (25/35) in the levofloxacin group. The clinical efficacy in the abdominal cluster-needling group was superior to that in the levofloxacin group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abdominal cluster-needling therapy achieves the significant efficacy on female chronic pyelonephritis and it is the optimal therapy for the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM and Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong Province, China. jianyunhong@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Jian-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome